Coffee roasting programs are a great investment if you really want to make coffee roasting a profession. Most coffee roasters start out as apprentices to a master roaster. Look for people who have the position you want and set up a conversation. It could be an informal chat over coffee with milk or a more structured informational interview.
In any situation, ask specific questions about how they got their position, what barriers they experienced, and what advice they have. The requirements for getting a job in the coffee industry vary depending on the position you're interested in. To work as a barista, for example, you need a high school diploma, knowledge or interest in coffee, and good customer service skills. Evaluators and evaluators often have advanced certifications, such as a Q qualifier license, which focuses on coffee evaluation and tasting tools to determine the taste, aroma and other quality control factors of beans and beverages.
There are no formal requirements to become a coffee roaster or roast coffee independently, although several skills, such as great attention to detail, mechanical aptitude and creative problem solving, are very useful for this type of work. The Coffee Career Center provides job applicants, internship candidates and employers with a comprehensive, personalized resource for online work connections. Just because you really like coffee doesn't necessarily mean you have a career to go, because most of what you'll do at work isn't play with coffee extractions. The best part of all of this is that you don't have to give up your current career completely and dive headlong into a new career in coffee.
There is a traditional career progression, moving up the career ladder where you stay in a position, but move forward in terms of responsibility. Find out what you can bring to the community, as well as where you feel most comfortable building a career. That's not to say that in other places where the cost of living is a little more bearable, it's not feasible to have a healthy salary as a barista, especially as you climb the ladder to higher-paying jobs in your career. Sierra encourages people from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in the coffee industry and tells me that her own experience has been positive.
She is a sensory judge certified by the World Barista Championship, a licensed coffee preparation coach for the Specialty Coffee Association, and a professional coffee counselor. If you want to dedicate yourself to coffee because you are a coffee “geek”, I recommend that you find another reason why you want to dedicate yourself to coffee, or simply that you keep coffee as a beautiful hobby. By demonstrating your enthusiasm and being open to new experiences, you can open the door to the next level of your career. I don't agree, coffee is an absolutely qualified workforce, which benefits it as a profession that can be open to everyone.
Having that kind of consideration for colleagues who don't want to accept a job they probably wouldn't keep was important to Wade, because he knows that developing long-term relationships within the industry is one of the most important aspects of a successful career in the coffee industry, as well as one of the best ways. to facilitate the search for employment. It's also a powerful way to hone your craft and grow your career and, hopefully, help others along the way. Your willingness to reach out, connect and follow up with others in the community can make a difference in your career path.